La empresa Sumitomo Metal Mining aprobó la implementación de la ampliación de mina de cobre Cerro Verde, ubicada en Arequipa, en la cual tiene una participación accionaria de 21%.

“El estudio del proyecto potencial para expandir la producción anual de cobre de 300,000 toneladas a 500,000 toneladas se ha completado y los planes para el proyecto se han finalizado oficialmente. Sumitomo ha tomado la decisión de aprobar implementación del proyecto”, dio a conocer la minera japonesa.

Freeport McMoRan, operadora de Cerro Verde, presentó un proyecto para ampliar la capacidad de procesamiento diario de la concentradora de la mina de 120,000 toneladas a 360,000 toneladas, logrando así un incremento de la producción anual de cobre de 300,000 a 50,000 toneladas, precisó Sumitomo Metal Mining.

“Después de la debida diligencia en el proyecto, Sumitomo decidió aprobar la ejecución del proyecto debido a su mayor rentabilidad”, aseguró. La inversión total de la ampliación de Cerro Verde será de aproximadamente US$ 4.6 mil millones y se espera que la producción total comience en el primer trimestre de 2016.

La minera japonesa resaltó el potencial del megaproyecto: “Incluso después de la expansión de la producción, la mina tiene una vida de aproximadamente 30 años y seguirá siendo una de las principales fuentes de producción de cobre de Sumitomo durante un largo período de tiempo”.

Sumitomo aseguró que “no habrá cambios” con respecto a su participación accionaria en Cerro Verde.

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (“SMM”) and Sumitomo Corporation (“SC”) (collectively “Sumitomo”) hold a 21% equity interest in the Cerro Verde Copper Mine in the Republic of Peru operated by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (Freeport), the largest publicly traded copper company in the US.

An ongoing study into a potential project to expand the annual copper production of this mine from 300,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes (“the project”) is now complete and plans for the project have been officially finalized. Sumitomo has made the decision to approve implementation of the project.

Through SMM Cerro Verde Netherlands, Sumitomo has held since 2005 an equity interest of 21% (with an investment ratio of 8/2 for SMM/SC respectively) in the company Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde (SMCV) which operates the Cerro Verde Copper Mine managed by Freeport.
A proposal for the project has been submitted by Freeport which will increase the daily processing capacity at its concentrator for the mine from 120,000 tonnes to 360,000 tonnes, thus achieving an increase in annual production of copper from 300,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes. After the due diligence on the project, Sumitomo decided to approve the implementation of the project due to its higher profitability. Even after the expansion of production, mine life is expected to be approximately 30 years and the mine will continue to be one of the main sources of Sumitomo's copper production over a long period of time. The total investment will be approximately USD 4.6 billion and full production is expected to start in the first quarter of 2016. There will be no changes with regards to Sumitomo’s equity ratio.

SMM’s long-term goal is to achieve an annual copper production of 300,000 tonnes with its equity share, and the implementation of this project will help it achieve this goal.
SC intends to increase the value of its existing copper assets through this project as part of its efforts to expand, enhance, and build up its quality non-ferrous metal assets.